Improvement in adjustable port-holes for directing ordnance



' P. G. PELTZ.` i Gun-Carriage. No. 38,407. V Patented May 5, 1863.

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IMPROVEMENT AIN ADJUSTABLE PORT-HOLES FOR DlRECTlNG ORDNANCE.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 38,107, dated May 5, 1363. I

To all whom, it may concern Be it known that I, PHILIP G. PnLrz, ofthe United States Navy, have invented a new and improved device for elevating and depressing guns and closing the ports of turrets, iron-clads, and batteries; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification, in which- Figure l exhibits a vertical section of aportion of a turret, showing a side elevation of a gun with my invention applied. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section at m x, Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the rollers. Fig. 4 is a rear elevation of the sheet-iron casing covering the same. Fig. 5 is a plan'of the bearings. Fig. 6 is a diagram illustrating the application of the invention to batteries or ordinary embrasures where the guns are required to be trained.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views.

My said invention consists, first, in the use of two spirally-grooved rollers or revolving columns placed in a vertical or inclined position and adapted to entirely close the embrasure or present at any height an opening just sufficient to admit the muzzle of the gun; second, in elevating and depressing the gun by means ofthe rotation of the aforesaid rollers; third, in the use of reversible boxes for slightly separating the rollers in the event of their becoming slightly bent while in action; fourth, in the use of a casing covering the said rollers, to exclude smoke from the exterior of the turret or caseniate.

That others skilled in the art to which my invention appertains may be enabled to fully understand and use the same, I will proceed to describe it, first, as applied to revolving turrets or other protecting structures in which the training of the gun is dispensed with.

A represents a cannon, supported by truunions a upon a carriage, B.

C represents a part of the wall of a turret o other protecting structure, pierced with an embrasure, c, of horizontal width just sufiicient to permit the free passage of the projectile, and of sufiicient length or height to permit the elevation or depression of the gun.

D D are spirally-grooved rollers, geared by wheels e @to revolve in unison in yokes E E, iitted with reversible boxes lor bearingsF F, Fig.

5, to admit of setting the said rollers at any desired proximity to each other. The rotation of the rollers D D is, by preference, effected by an endless screw, G, which may be rotated by a crank, g, and gears with worm-wheelsH on one or both of the rollers. The grooves in the rollers D D are so formed and arranged that where they meet they form a circular aperture, as shown at d in Fig. 3, adapted to receive the muzzle of the gun, and this aperture may be raised, lowered, or completely closed by the rotation of the rollers.

I I represent handspikes or levers, which may be inserted in apertures inthe roller shafts or journals, to rotate lthe rollers in the event of the gearing being disabled.

J is a casing of sheet-iron, inclo'sing the roll ers E E, to exclude smoke and gas, and formed with a vertical slot, j, of sufficient size to permit the elevation and depression of the muzzle ofthe gun.

In order to reduce the weight of metal, it is preferable to construct the turret with inclined sides, as shown in Fig. l, the rollers having a correspondingly inclined position; but this necessitates the use of deeper grooves in the rollers than are needful where they can be set vertically. As the gun is never required to project through the turret-wall, the embrasure therein may be of considerably less width than the diameter of the muzzle. The inner edges of the embrasures are formed with a curve, 71y z', Fig. 1, concentric with the trunnions, so

that the muzzle may remain in contact with the port while being elevated or depressed.

The manner of using theinvention is as follows: The gun, being loaded, is run forward until its muzzle, passing through the aperture between the rollers, comes in contact with the inner edge of the embrasure. The rollers are then revolvedby the crank g, or any other suitable means, until the gun reaches the required angle of elevation. After iiring, the muzzle is again lowered to its original position and run in for loading, when about two additional turns ofthe crank will completely close the aperture. Vhen the gun is loaded, two or three turns of the crank in the same directionrollers are set so close together as toleave an aperture just sufiicient for sighting the gun,

but in the event of their becoming bent in such manner as to interfere With their rotation, the boxes F F may be taken out and reversed, so as to separate the rollers sufficiently to permit their free rotation.

' The invention .is equally applicable to the embrasures of forts, batteries, or vessels Where guns are required to be trained horiL zontally as Well as elevated and depressed. The rollers offer no impediment to the training of the gun; but the Width of the embrasure and of the aperture in the sheet-metal easing must of course i be increased. This mode of using the invention will be clearly understood from the diagram given in Fig. 6.

the advantages resulting from the use of the invention: First, the embrasure is at all times effectually closed against the entrance of ruissiles, an aperture only sufficient to receive the muzzle being presented While the gun is out,

and this being closed While the gun is in; second, the guns are elevated and depressed by .the same mechanism, thus dispensing with the rest the concussion andexclude smoke and gas; fth, the exposure is not increased by the angular elevation of the gun; sixth, the guns may afways be loaded in a horizontal 2. Elevating or depressing guns by means of spirally-grooved rollers, substantially as herein described.

3. The reversible boxes F F, employed in the described combination with the rollers D D, for the purpose of changing their distance asunder. ,Y

.4. The casing J, employed in the described combination with the rollers D D, to exclude smoke and gas.

' P. G. PELTZ. [L s] Vitnesses:

D. S. LEFFLER, Jr., J osErIer H. HELM. 

